Shoe-spring



(NQ Model.)

J. S. WALKER.

SHOE SPRING.`

No. 427,136. Patented May 6,1890.

F' .2 2%. l e QN-hm" Jg lt MII' f r It II v C Fi L @mi/Masern UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN S. VALKER, OF CLAREMONT, NIV HAMPSHIRE.

SHOE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,136, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed February 4, 1890. Serial No. 339.138. (No model.)

T0 all whom .it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN S. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Springs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a f ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and us the same.

My invention relates to certain novel and valuable improvements in springs adapted for application to boots and shoes for the purpose of facilitating movements of the human body in walking orjumping; and the objects of my invention and improvements are, first, to provide a spring of any suitable shape with means whereby it can be readily attached to or detached from a boot or shoe; second, to provide a compound spring with integral fastenings for attaching the same to the sole of a boot or shoe, and, third, to combine with a jumper-spring adapted for a' boot or shoe auxiliary springs of metal, rubber, or other suitable material interposed between the main spring and a point located at or near the instep of the foot. I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichA Figure lis a side elevation of my improved jumper-spring, showing one practical mode of aixing it to a shoe, which is indicated in dotted lines. F-ig. 2 is a top view of my improved jumper-spring. Figs. 3 and flare perspective views showing a toe or heel dovetail attachment for securing the spring-jumper to a boot or shoe, both attachments being constructed of a female portion secured to the shoe and a male portion secured to the footrest of the spring. y

Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the views. i Referring to the annexed drawings by letters, A designates the main jumper-spring, which is preferably made of steel, and which in cross-section is flat. Taken longitudinally,

this spring presents at a, a looped toe portion, the upper part b of which is extended backward to form a toe-seat, on which may be a male dovetail locking-lug c, adapted to interlock with a corresponding female socket formed in a plate fixed to the sole of the shoe. From the loop a the springA is bowed downward to form a spring-tread d for the ball of the foot; thence "the sole part of this spring is bowed upwardly, terminating in a loop-shaped spring-heel tread e, which is extendedV forwardly, forming a heel-seat f, on which is a lug f, corresponding to the lug c at the toe of t-he spring A, and adapted to engage with a heel-plate.

B designates a spring, which is interposed vbetween the sole portion of the main spring and the instep. I therefore term this spring an auxiliary instep-spring7 as it aids in sustaining the weight of the body. At the same time it allows perfect freedom of movements of the foot.

The spring B, which I show in the annexed drawings, is made of steel, like the wellknown semi-ellipticcarriage-spring; but this auxiliary spring may be spiral, helical, or of any other suitable shape, and it may be made of india-rubber.

Vhile I have above referred to metal dovetail interlocking fastenings for securing my improved jumper-spring to a boot 0r shoe, I do not limit myself to such fastenings, as many of the well-known skate-fastenings may be employed for this purpose; or I may use the well-known skate-strap fastenings.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The within-described improved article of manufacture, consisting of a shoe-spring formed integral and having a curved foot-rest, a depressed heel-seat for the shoe, the forward and rear curved extensions, the, sole portion curved to form front and rear short treads d c, and an intermediate arch between these treads, in combination with an elliptic spring secured to the said foot-rest and bearing at or near the said short treads, and suit able fastenings for securing the spring to a shoe, all as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. WALKER. Witnesses:

Jos. C. ENRIGHT, J. S. WALKER, Jr. 

